Deewan-e-Ghalib is 19th Century poet Mirza Ghalib’s extraordinary contribution not just to Urdu but to world literature and poetry. Mirza Ghalib had a view on almost every subject, which makes him very relevant for all ages.

Though ghazal maestros like Mehdi Hasan, Jagjit Singh, Begum Akhtar, Abida Parveen, Ghulam Ali and several others have attempted to popularize Mirza Ghalib’s works through their signature rendition styles, these attempts were limited to a few popular ghazals. The complete work of Mirza Ghalib’s ‘Deewan’ is not available as a single unit for ghazal enthusiasts across the world.

A popular name in Ghazal circles of Mumbai, psychiatrist-singer-composer Dr Ajai R Singh (MD) had always felt that not enough has been done to popularize Ghalib’s work. He got inspired to set to tune and to record all 235 Ghazals from the Deewan-e-Ghalibon visiting ‘Ghalibkihaveli’ in Old Delhi in 2014.

Dr Singh said, “Though a mammoth task, it’s aworthy effort as it’s meant to make the Urdu ghazals of Mirza Ghalib available to the current generation in a very consumable form”.

The albums will be launched as different volumes over a period of time to cover all 235 ghazals of the Deewan-e-Ghaliband will be available as CDs & digitally across the world. Sony DADC, a distribution specialist, is collaborating with Dr Ajai R Singh to provide worldwide reach for the Albums.

This is the very first of its kind mission to expose Mirza Ghalib’s work to a larger world audience. The effort to create a rendition of all the ghazals of theDeewan-e-Ghalib will be our gift to ghazal enthusiasts and Ghalib fans spread all over the globe.

Commenting on the association, Mr Rajat Kakar, Managing Director of Sony DADC said, “’Khushnuma Raat Hai - A Musical Embrace’ is Dr Ajai R. Singh’s album of nazms and ghazals from MirzaGhalib’s  Deewan-e-Ghaliband attempts to start the exposure of entire work of MirzaGhalib for ghazal lovers. We hope listeners world over will appreciate this labour of passion from DrAjai R. Singh.”

The first album in the series titled, ‘Khushuma Raat Hai- A Musical Embrace’, comprising of ghazals and nazms was recently released with DrAjai R Singh’s mesmerizing rendition of some of its songs at a live event. Pandit Arun Kashalkar from the Agra Gharana and eminent poets like Janab Nadim Siddiqui, Janab Irfan Jafri, Dr Qasim Imam, Janab Abdul Ahad ‘Saaz’, as also Janab Rehman Naushad [son of Music Director Naushad] appreciated the effort and attended the concert with other ghazal enthusiasts and poets.